American Friends of Leket Israel: Israel's National Food Bank and food rescue organization is looking for a new design for its parade float -- and we need YOUR help! Submit a design for what you think the float should look like and thousands of parade viewers will see your work! Read on for contest entry rules and guidelines:

ISRAEL21c - Feb. 13, 2015. ''In celebration of his studio’s 10-year anniversary, [food photographer,Assaph] Ronen organized a unique initiative to benefit Leket Israel, inviting 12 Israeli celebrity chefs to learn the art of food photography. 'When thinking about how I would mark this special occasion, I knew I wanted to incorporate a social element to try and give back. I reached out to Leket ...

ALGEMEINER - Feb. 4, 2015. ''Over 1,000 children and teens from across Israel including kibbutzim and yishuvim in the Jezreel Valley and from cities like Rehovot, Ra’anana, Kfar Saba, and Givat Shmuel are participating in the Project Citrus Rescue, or Sayeret Tapuz in Hebrew. The fruit will be collected to be delivered to Leket’s 180 partner agencies for distribution to those in need.''

UNITED WITH ISRAEL - Feb. 4, 2015. In honor of Tu B’Shvat, children and teens from across Israel participated in Leket Israel's Project ''Citrus Rescue'', or “Sayeret Tapuz” in Hebrew. The fruit will be distributed to those in need throughout the country. Read the full article here:

JEWISH PRESS - Feb. 4, 2015. ''Over 1,000 children and teens from across Israel including kibbutzim and yishuvim in the Jezreel Valley and from cities like Rehovot, Ra’anana, Kfar Saba, and Givat Shmuel are participating in the Project Citrus Rescue, or Sayeret Tapuz in Hebrew. The fruit will be collected to be delivered to Leket’s 180 partner agencies for distribution to those in need.''

THE UNITED JERUSALEM FOUNDATION (JPOST) - Feb. 4, 2015. ''One of Leket’s main projects is its gleaning initiative, which sends thousands into fields to gather produce donated or left unpicked and distribute it to the needy. In honor of Tu Bishvat, the Jewish holiday celebrating nature, Leket Israel – The National Food Bank is sending out young volunteers from across the country to pick excess f...

YNET JEWISH WORLD - Feb. 4, 2015. ''In honor of Tu BiShvat, the Jewish holiday that marks the beginning of the new year for trees, youth volunteering with Leket Israel are picking excess fruit remaining on trees in people's private gardens to give to the poor. Over 1,000 children and teens from across Israel including kibbutzim and yishuvim in the Jezreel Valley and from cities like Rehovot, Ra...

OTTAWA JEWISH BULLETIN (JTA) - Feb. 2, 2015. ''Youth movements throughout Israel will send teams of teens to pick excess fruit from trees in people’s gardens for distribution to the needy in honour of Tu B’Shevat. Some 1,000 children and teens will participate in the event, dubbed Sayaret Tapuz, or Project Citrus Rescue. The event, in its fifth year, is co-ordinated by Leket Israel, a national...

SAN DIEGO JEWISH WORLD - Feb. 4, 2015. ''Youth volunteering with Leket Israel
on Wednesday, Feb. 4, picked excess fruit remaining on trees in people’s private gardens to give to the poor. Over 1,000 children and teens from across Israel including kibbutzim and yishuvim in the Jezreel Valley and from cities like Rehovot, Ra’anana, Kfar Saba, and Givat Shmuel participated in the Project, Citrus ...

CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS - Feb. 2, 2015. Some 1,000 children and teens will participate in the event, dubbed Sayaret Tapuz, or Project Citrus Rescue. The event, in its 5th year, is coordinated by Leket Israel... 'It is a wonderful opportunity to involve the youth in a hands-on activity to benefit those less fortunate and to mark Tu b’Shevat, the celebration of the trees, in a truly meaningful way,...

ISRAEL 21c - Feb. 3, 2015. ''Leket provides 25,000 volunteers every year to pick crops in Colb’s fields. As one of Colb’s distribution partners, Leket also provides some 25,000 volunteers to pick crops every year. Many of the volunteers are tourists who devote a morning to the charitable project. 'Wherever I go around the world, I meet people who have picked in our fields, and they always reme...

JERUSALEM POST - Feb. 3, 2015. ''In honor of Tu Bishvat, the Jewish holiday celebrating nature, Leket Israel - the National Food Bank is sending out youth volunteers from across the country to pick excess fruit from private gardens for the needy. Through Project Citrus Rescue (Sayeret Tapuz in Hebrew) some 1,000 children and teens from youth movements and Kibbutzim such as Givat Hayim, Yishuvi...

JSPACE NEWS - Feb. 4, 2015. ''According to Joseph Gitler, Leket Israel’s founder and chairman, the Tu B’Shvat initiative (Project Citrus Rescue), now in its 5th year, was coordinated this year to coincide with the holiday of Tu B’Shvat. 'We are inviting volunteers to rescue this fruit before it rots in people’s yards and are reaching out to private home owners who are interested in donating th...

ST LOUIS JEWISH LIGHT - Feb. 2, 2015. JERUSALEM (JTA) — ''Youth movements throughout Israel will send teams of teens out to pick excess fruit from trees in people’s gardens for distribution to those in need. The event in honor of the Jewish holiday of Tu B’Shevat is coordinated by Leket Israel, a National Food Bank and food rescue network.'' Read the full article here:

YNET NEWS - Jan. 9, 2015. The government had pledged to give NIS 60 million in aid to people in need, but in reality only allocated NIS 2 million in the budget for food security, Ynet learned Thursday. The Social Affairs Ministry said in response that the delay in handing over the funds was caused by ''governmental procedures regarding the allocation.'' Quoted in the article is CEO of the Nati...

JEWISH JOURNAL (Palm Beach South) - Jan. 7, 2015. ''Lauren Yoked, director of American Friends of Leket Israel (Israel's national food bank and its largest food rescue network), recently visited Congregation B'nai Israel in Boca Raton and made a presentation to three classes of seventh- and eigth-graders in the temple's religious school. Yoked spoke about Leket Israel's work in food rescue on b...

JPOST - Jan. 26, 2015. ''Joseph Gitler, founder and chairman of Leket Israel, Israel’s National Food Bank and largest food rescue network, had to find a solution for the lack of food coupled with an increase in demand this summer, due to Operation Protective Edge. The organization decided to do something it had never done before and purchased food from vendors in the south. This strategic move...

Founded in 2003, Leket Israel serves as the country's largest food bank and food rescue network actively working to alleviate the problem of nutritional insecurity among Israel's diverse population. Help Israel's Needy - Support Israel's National Food Bank. Read on to learn more.

Founded in 2003, Leket Israel serves as the country's largest food bank and food rescue network actively working to alleviate the problem of nutritional insecurity among Israel's diverse population. Help Israel's Needy - Support Israel's National Food Bank. Read on to learn more.

PEARL COHEN - Dec. 16, 2014. ''Pearl Cohen was recognized for its work on behalf of Israel’s food bank, Leket Israel with the Corporate Responsibility Award. Partners Zeev Pearl, Mark Cohen and Hadar Solomon accepted the award on behalf of the firm at Leket Israel’s annual gala dinner attended by over 800 people. Over the last three years, Pearl Cohen has supported Leket Israel in a range of wa...

ALGEMEINER - Nov. 25, 2014. ''What we’ve seen in the last few years is a very, very stark increase in the number of working poor,” Deena Fiedler of Leket, a decade-old umbrella organization which serves as as the nation’s largest food bank and rescue service...''There’s been a big increase in the number of functional families, where both the husband and wife hold jobs, except the cost of living...

ARUTZ SHEVA - Nov. 28, 2014. ''When Joseph Gitler went to law school, he wasn't sure what he wanted to be but he didn't think he'd become a lawyer. He did not realize at the time that his destiny was to feed Israel's hungry by creating an innovative yet simple system whereby good food goes to the needy instead of going to waste. He founded Leket Israel, the largest food resource-food rescue org...

HAARETZ (Rank and File) - Nov. 7, 2014. ''Food bank Leket Israel marked World Food Day on Tuesday by lobbying Knesset members to adopt its proposed Good Samaritan Food Donation Act. 'The proposed legislation for the first-ever Good Samaritan Food Donation Act in Israel will allow Leket Israel, for example, to collect at least three times more hot meals annually, meaning 4.5 million meals every ...

JERUSALEM POST - Nov. 5, 2014. ''We are delighted to have the opportunity to mark World Food Day at the Knesset to raise awareness about the importance of food rescue to benefit Israel’s needy,” said Leket Israel founder and chairman Joseph Gitler. “In addition, the proposed legislation for the first-ever Good Samaritan Food Donation Act in Israel will allow Leket Israel, for example, to colle...

Welcome to Leket Israel, The National Food Bank's Spring E-Newsletter. On behalf of the staff and its network of tens of thousands of volunteers, we wish you a meaningful holiday season and a joyous spring. Thanks to supporters like you, Leket Israel is able to provide crucial nutrition to over 140,000 needy Israelis each week.

THE JEWISH LINK - Oct. 23, 2014. ''Joseph Gitler, Founder and Chairman of Leket Israel, Israel’s National Food Bank and largest food rescue network, will be honored for his leadership on Saturday night, November 8, 2014 in New York City at the American Friends of Leket Israel gala dinner benefitting the David A. Cohen Family Leket Meal Rescue Project.'' Read the full article here:

ALGEMEINER - Oct. 24, 2014. “What we’ve see in the last few years is a very, very stark increase in the number of working poor,” according to Deena Fiedler of Leket, a decade-old umbrella organization which serves as as the nation’s largest food bank and food rescue service. The organization works with 180 non-profit groups across the country, including food suppliers, hotels in several cities,...

THE CHRISTIAN CENTURY - Oct. 1, 2014. ''The start of the sabbatical-year prohibitions, which include sowing, planting, pruning, reaping, harvesting and improving the land, coincided with the start of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year that began this year on Sept. 24. Produce planted before the shmita can be harvested this year. The majority of the farms that donate food to Leket, Israel’s nati...

VOICE OF ISRAEL - Oct. 8, 2014. ''Joseph Gitler, the Founder and Director of Leket - Israel's Food Bank, says that while there exists the perception that the 'holidays' are the perfect time to help feed the hungry in Israel, his organization adamantly stresses that assistance is needed all year round. Leket partners with various charities to feed thousands of Israelis under the poverty line on ...

ARUTZ SHEVA - Oct. 12, 2014. ''Joseph Gitler, founder & chairman of Leket Israel, Israel’s National Food Bank and largest food rescue network, had to find a solution for the lack of food coupled with an increase in demand this summer, due to Operation Protective Edge. The organization decided to do something it had never done before and purchased food from vendors in the south. This strategic m...

USA TODAY - Oct. 2, 2014. ''...this Jewish New Year, 5775, is a sabbatical year, when, according to the Bible, the land of Israel is supposed to lie fallow. Called a shmita year in Hebrew, the sabbatical is intended to allow the poor to reap whatever may still be growing on the land ''so that the poor of your people may eat,'' Exodus 23:11.'' Read the full article here:

THE NY JEWISH WEEK - Oct. 1, 2014. ''The start of the sabbatical-year prohibitions, which include sowing, planting, pruning, reaping, harvesting and improving the land, coincided with the start of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year that began this year on Sept. 24. Produce planted before the shmita can be harvested this year. The majority of the farms that donate food to Leket, Israel’s nationa...

NEFESH B'NEFESH -Oct. 2014. ''Joseph Gitler, founder & chairman of Leket Israel, Israel’s National Food Bank and largest food rescue network, had to find a solution for the lack of food coupled with an increase in demand this summer, due to Operation Protective Edge. The organization decided to do something it had never done before and purchased food from vendors in the south. This strategic mo...

TIMES OF ISRAEL - Blog by Deborah Dickson - Oct. 1, 2014. Included in the ''most recommended days out'' by users of LoveLoveIsrael.com to add to your itinerary while in Israel for this Sukkot is a stop at Leket Israel, The National Food Bank: ''Leket – pick vegetables that will be handed out to the poor. A fun group activity for a great cause! Call to see if you can join a group.'' Read more ...

THE WASHINGTON POST - Sept. 30, 2014. ''The start of the sabbatical-year prohibitions, which include sowing, planting, pruning, reaping, harvesting and improving the land, coincided with the start of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year that began this year on Sept. 24. Produce planted before the shmita can be harvested this year. The majority of the farms that donate food to Leket, Israel’s nati...

NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS - Sept. 22, 2014. Rabbi Bennet Miller, senior rabbi at Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick, was in Israel in early August to show solidarity with residents of the embattled south. Miller picked celery, eggplant, and onions on a Be’er Sheva farm as a volunteer for Leket, Israel’s national food bank, to be distributed to poor Israelis. Read the full article here:

The Global FoodBanking Network - Sept. 2014. Jeff Klein, President and CEO of The Global FoodBanking Network recently gave a keynote address at the Annual Conference of Science and the Environment’s session: Food Waste in Israel – The Scope of the Problem and Ways to Solve It. Jeff was in Israel to share information about food banking as a solution to the interrelated problems of hunger and foo...

JERUSALEM POST - Sept. 29, 2014. Jeff Klein, president and CEO of The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) arrived in Israel ahead of the holidays to deliver a keynote speech at Leket Israel – the National Food Bank session on food waste at the annual conference for the Israel Society of Ecology and Environmental Sciences at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan. Klein discussed ways governments and c...

JERUSALEM POST Blog - Sept. 11, 2014. ''This week, I’ve come down to earth, so to speak, to highlight some of Israel’s natural remedies and activities that benefit humanity by making best use of the natural environment...Israel’s food bank Leket Israel has tripled its donations and reduced natural wastage by the introduction of its Virtual Food Rescue site. Donors can fill up a digital shopping...

JEWISH BUSINESS NEWS Blog - Sept. 11, 2014. ''This week, I’ve come down to earth, so to speak, to highlight some of Israel’s natural remedies and activities that benefit humanity by making best use of the natural environment...Israel’s food bank Leket Israel has tripled its donations and reduced natural wastage by the introduction of its Virtual Food Rescue site. Donors can fill up a digital sh...

SAVE THE DATE for Leket Israel's Annual Gala Dinner ''Journey of Giving'' on December 13th, 2014 at the Avenue - Airport City in Israel. Over the past decade, Leket Israel has grown from a one-man operation to Israel's national food bank and largest food rescue network, providing vital nutritional support to 140,000 of Israel's needy every week.

SHALOMLIFE - Aug. 13, 2014. ''As Operation Protective Edge intensified in Gaza, teens on summer in Israel programs organized by NCSY, the international youth movement of the Orthodox Union, gave back and expanded their horizons. They lent their support to Israeli residents in the south...and they volunteered with Leket Israel, the national food bank.'' Read the full article here:

BANK LEUMI (UK) - Sept. 5, 2014.
''...we are delighted to announce that all members of Team Leumi have successfully completed the Bank’s 5th Annual Charity Bike Ride, raising over £78,000 in aid of Leket Israel and The Hasler Company...The Team was joined by Joseph Gitler, Founder & Chairman of Leket Israel for the last two days of the ride. Joseph has managed to transform a one man operation ...

July 19, 2014 - Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley. ''Leket serves those who are food insecure regardless of race and or religion. I experienced this firsthand, how Leket is able to serve those who otherwise would not be able to have fresh fruits and vegetables along with a cooked meal. I am proud that our Jewish Federation community is a partner with Leket on this life sustaining effort....J...

JEWISH TELEGRAPHIC AGENCY - August 7, 2014. ''Leket Israel-The National Food Bank purchased hundreds of thousands of shekels worth of food products from vendors in southern Israel hard hit by the conflict and delivered the goods to people living in communities surrounding Gaza. While providing the needy with basic necessities, the organization was supporting businesses in the South that have be...

ISRAEL MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS - Aug 7, 2014. ''From across Israel, groups of individuals and NGOs are providing support, assistance and supplies to troops, their families and residents of the south...The national food bank Leket Israel has developed a unique model, working hand in hand with 30 IDF bases to rescue hundreds of thousands of pounds of fresh leftovers for redistribution to the...

TIMES OF ISRAEL - August 8, 2014. ''Leket Israel-The National Food Bank purchased hundreds of thousands of shekels worth of food products from vendors in southern Israel hard hit by the conflict and delivered the goods to people living in communities surrounding Gaza. While providing the needy with basic necessities, the organization was supporting businesses in the South that have been slamme...

JERUSALEM POST - August 5, 2014. ''Leket Israel – the National Food Bank purchased hundreds of thousands of shekels worth of food products this week from vendors in the South and delivered the goods to the needy through some 30 charities operating in communities surrounding Gaza. The goal was to provide the needy with basic necessities while supporting local businesses in the South that have be...

MATZAV.COM - July 25, 2014. ''As Gaza rockets continue to strike southern Israel, the region’s lower-socioeconomic sectors are suffering even more with the current conditions. According to Israel’s National Food Bank, the country’s main food rescue network known as Leket Israel, the situation of southern Israel’s needy has become worse since the war began, with requests for food packages from t...

HAARETZ (Rank & File) - Aug. 8, 2014. ''Leket Israel on Sunday delivered food products valued at hundreds of thousands of shekels to 30 nonprofit agencies in the South. The food bank, founded by Teaneck, New Jersey native Joseph Gitler, was aiming to provide the needy with necessary items and to support local businesses in Sderot, Ofakim, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Nitzan and Netivot that have been hurt...

JPOST (THE JERUSALEM REPORT) - August 5, 2014. ''When Joseph Gitler made aliyah in 2000, he held a law degree from Fordham University in New York and started working at a family software business. He never dreamed that he would found Israel’s first National Food Bank, Leket, and turn it into Israel’s largest food rescue network.'' Read on for more:

JERUSALEM POST MAGAZINE - July 31, 2014. ''Leket Israel, the national food bank, has been in communication with the army to rescue food that would otherwise be thrown out, in addition to its normal activities of food rescue. ''We've collected, until now, 220,000 fresh rolls due to changes of what they're doing in the south,'' Leket CEO, Gidi Kroch said. ''This happened three or four times alre...

ISRAEL RADIO (Radio Interview) - July 21, 2014. David Ze'ev interviews Paul Leiba of Leket Israel (Israel's National food Bank) about its food rescue and provision work. Paul describes Leket Israel's recent intensive cooperation with the IDF - especially in the south where the organization rescues surplus food to help southern residents under fire. Listen to the radio interview here:

CRANE LAKE CAMP JTFN - July 24, 2014. ''This week our Kesher group decided to give $700 to the West Stockbridge Community Garden and $300 to Leket Israel...Our $300 donation to Leket Israel will help them with their meal rescue program, which is a program that is organized to prevent food waste and promotes food security. Our Crane Lake Teen Foundation is proud to donate to Leket Israel in suc...

SAN DIEGO JEWISH WORLD - July 24, 2014. ''According to Israel’s National Food Bank, the country’s main food rescue network known as Leket Israel, the situation of southern Israel’s needy has become worse since the war began, with requests for food packages from the south flooding the country’s largest food bank...There are a number of factors contributing to this situation.'' Read on to learn m...

THE ALGEMEINER - July 25, 2014. ''As Gaza rockets continue to strike southern Israel, the region’s lower-socioeconomic sectors are suffering even more with the current conditions.'' Read on to learn more about what Leket Israel is doing to help alleviate the situation for Israel's southern residents in need.

FUN IN JERUSALEM - July 2014. ''Leket Israel is Israel’s National Food Bank and leading food rescue network currently rescuing and providing food to hundreds of organizations serving people in need throughout Israel...Those that are looking for a volunteer opportunity, or want to share their Simcha with Leket Israel, are able to participate in different projects run by Leket Israel.'' Read on ...

YJNews - July 2014. ''As Gaza rockets continue to strike southern Israel, the region’s lower-socioeconomic sectors are suffering even more with the current conditions. According to Israel’s National Food Bank...known as Leket Israel, the situation of southern Israel’s needy has become worse since the war began, with requests for food packages from the south flooding the country’s largest food b...

JEWISH JOURNAL - July 17, 2014. ''Anybody who has grown up in a Jewish home and attended key family functions, from bar mitzvahs to weddings, knows that the food served during celebration is the life of the party. It’s comforting to know, though, that meals created to celebrate life also can help sustain it for others in need.'' When in Israel and the leftovers are piling up afterward, please ...

JVALLEY NEWS/BLOG - July 14, 2014. ''We had an incredible site visit on Sunday with Leket who is Israel’s food bank much like Second Harvest. The only difference is that Leket has a very unique model in that it provides fresh fruits and vegetables from farmers who do not want their crops.'' Read on for the full blog post:

Representatives of “Boroume”, a virtual food bank in Athens, visited Leket Israel to learn how they operate their countrywide food collection programs and manage an extensive volunteer network throughout Israel. Click here for the full article and photos:

JUF News Express - Feb. 2014. ''180 local Jewish eighth graders arrived in Israel this week for the Taam Yisrael (Taste of Israel) trip, a program of JUFs Community Foundation for Jewish Education.'' Included during the trip was a stop to glean with Leket Israel. Read more here:

TIMES OF ISRAEL - July 4, 2014. ''A new interactive website has tripled the online donations to an Israeli charitable group—and that translates into much more food for the hungry. Leket Israel, in business since 2003, is one of the country’s largest food bank networks, supplying and supplementing the diets of over a million people in Israel every day. The organization is going high-tech with th...

Students from Ben Porat Yosef (BPY) in Paramus, NJ worked on a variety of charitable projects during Chesed Day, coordinated by Areyvut. Challah covers were made for the beneficiaries of Leket Israel, The National Food Bank. Read on for more, or view the photo gallery from the event.

KOSHERPRESS.COM - June 23, 2014. ''The Committee to Fight Poverty released their long awaited recommendations to combat poverty in Israel on Monday, with an estimated cost of some NIS 6 billion..Gidi Kroch, CEO of Leket Israel, a national food bank, commended the committee for the report and for their 'perfect timing, releasing it just as the government begins to work on the 2015 budget.' '' ...

HAMODIA - June 24, 2014. ''Israel’s Committee to Fight Poverty struck its blow with recommendations on the order of 6 billion shekels, or more than $1.7 billion, per year, according to media reports. Leket Israel CEO Gidi Kroch commended the committee members “for their social courage to publish such a well-reasoned and clearly written report, and for their perfect timing, releasing it just as ...

START-UP ISRAEL - June 23, 2014. ''Israel should double supplementary assistance and increase support to the elderly, the nation’s Committee to Fight Poverty recommended. The 50-member committee made its recommendations public on Monday. The fight against poverty would need 6 billion shekels, or more than $1.7billion, per year, the committee said.'' Read the full article here:

JERUSALEM POST - June 23, 2014. The Committee to Fight Poverty recently released its long awaited recommendations for combating poverty in Israel on a national scale. Among its recommendations, the committee called to reduce the poverty rates by 40% to reach the OECD average of 11% within 10 years. Read the full article here including comments from Leket Israel CEO, Gidi Kroch.

April 2, 2014. ''The culmination of a Rodeph Sholom School student’s experience is the 8th Grade trip to Israel in June...The Class of 2014 will be participating in a community service project in Israel with Leket, where they will pick fruits and vegetables on a farm to be sent to a soup kitchen.'' Read more here:

VOS IZ NEIAS - June 2, 2014. Two New Jersey middle school students embarked on a unique project this year, turning their own Bar Mitzvah celebrations into a fundraiser to collect money for an Israeli food bank. Sam Goldberg and Joshua Levine recorded an album, with all proceeds going to benefit Leket Israel, Israel’s national food bank, which collects food that would otherwise be wasted and dis...

HERITAGE FL JEWISH NEWS - June 13, 2014. Sam Goldberg & Joshua Levine, both 7th graders at The Moriah School in Englewood, NJ, spent a collective 75 hrs in a local studio to record an album they titled “Tikun Olam.” The goal, they said, was to raise money for Leket Israel, The National Food Bank. Goldberg and Levine are hoping to raise $45,000 from album sales so Leket can lease a much-needed 1...

Leket Israel's News & Updates section provides the reader with news and reports from Leket Israel, coverage in major news outlets, blogs and testimonials, the latest issues of our signature newsletter - the NEWS FEED, and archives of our Seasonal E-news blasts. Browse the articles and updates and get ready to be inspired!

PODCAST - June 11, 2014. Join Philip L. Stein and Joseph Gitler, chairman and founder of Leket Israel (The Jerusalem Post recently named Joseph one of the 50 most influential Jews in the world) discuss the country’s largest food bank and food rescue network working to alleviate the problem of nutritional insecurity among Israel’s diverse population.

Leket Israel is pleased to announce that its beloved Founder, Joseph Gitler was chosen as 25th among the Jerusalem Post's annual list of the top 50 most influential Jews from Israel and around the world. Read an exclusive Jerusalem Post (JPost) interview conducted by JPost correspondent Marion Fischell as she discusses with Mr. Gitler the beginnings of Leket Israel and how the organization is ...

JERUSALEM POST - June 3, 2014. ''Welcome to The Jerusalem Post’s annual Shavuot list of the world’s 50 most influential Jews! This year’s list features politicians, rabbis and researchers, human rights activists and philanthropists, entrepreneurs and entertainers from Israel and around the world.'' Leket Israel food bank founder, Joseph Gitler, is among those chosen by The Jerusalem Post. Re...

JERUSALEM POST - June 3, 2014. In an exclusive Jerusalem Post (JPost) interview with Leket Israel Founder, Joseph Gitler, JPost correspondent Marion Fischell explores the beginnings of Leket Israel and how the organization is making an impact by feeding 140,000 Israelis every week. Read the full interview here:

ISRAEL NEWS - May 20, 2014. ''More than 200 immigrants from English-speaking countries — including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, a UK, a US and Canada — were nominated for a Bonei Zion (Builders of Zion) Prize, that was awarded in 6 categories as good as for lifetime achievement. All 7 winners creatively accost from a US.'' Read the full article here:

THE JEWISH WEEK - May 27, 2014. ''On May 15th, the Speaker of the Knesset (Israeli Government), MK Yuli-Yoel Edelstien hosted a special award ceremony in the Knesset Auditorium, honoring seven English-speaking immigrants who are making a significant contribution to Israel in various fields.'' Leket Israel Founder, Joseph Gitler, was awarded the prize in the Community and Non-Profit category in ...

THE JEWISH PRESS - Jerusalem, Israel, May 15, 2014 – ''The 2014 Nefesh B’Nefesh Bonei Zion Prizes were awarded today at an official ceremony in the Knesset, hosted by the Speaker of the Knesset MK Yuli (Yoel) Edelstien. The recipients of the Prize were: Joseph Gitler, Founder and Chairman of Leket Israel;...'' Read the full article here:

HAARETZ - Rank and File - May 16, 2014. ''Nefesh B'Nefesh, the immigrant assistance organization, held its first annual ''Bonei Zion'' Prize Award Ceremony in the Knesset yesterday...The honorees among 200 candidates are Joseph Gitler, founder and chairman of the national food bank, Leket Israel...'' Read the full article here:

SAN DIEGO JEWISH WORLD - May 15, 2014. ''The 2014 Nefesh B’Nefesh Bonei Zion Prizes were awarded Thursday, May 15 at an official ceremony in the Knesset, hosted by the Speaker of the Knesset MK Yuli (Yoel) Edelstein...The recipients of the Prize were: Joseph Gitler, Founder and Chairman of Leket Israel; [among others]'' Read the full article here:

May 15, 2014. Joseph Gitler, Leket Israel's Founder and Chairman, received the Inaugural Nefesh B'Nefesh Bonei Zion Prize at a ceremony today at the Knesset. The Speaker of the Knesset, Yuli Edelstein, awarded Joseph this prestigious recognition for his work in establishing Israel's National Food Bank.

TIMES OF ISRAEL - May 15, 2014. ''More than 200 immigrants from English-speaking countries were nominated for the Bonei Zion (Builders of Zion) Prize, which was awarded in six categories as well as for lifetime achievement...Joseph Gitler, who made aliyah in 2000, won in the Community and Non-Profit category for his work as founder and chairman of Leket Israel, a national foodbank that provides...

Israel: May 8, 2014 – Izzy Dachs, a third grade student at Manhattan Day School on New York’s Upper West Side came in first place in American Friends of Leket Israel’s Celebrate Israel Parade Float Design Contest. Izzy and his family will ride on the float he designed at this year’s Celebrate Israel Parade on Sunday, June 1, 2014. Read the full Press Release here:

THE DAILY STAR - April 18, 2014. ''One in every three children lives in poverty in Israel, which joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) – generally made up of the world's wealthiest states – in 2010...At 20.9 percent of its households, Israel's poverty rate is the highest of any country in the 34-nation OECD, according to OECD measures.'' Read the full article h...

JTA - May 8, 2014. Sam Goldberg and Joshua Levine, both 13 and 7th graders at The Moriah School in Englewood, NJ, spent a collective 75 hours in a local studio to record an album they titled “Tikun Olam.” The goal of the album, they said, was to raise money for Leket Israel, The National Food Bank. Goldberg and Levine are hoping to raise $45,000 from album sales so Leket can lease a much-needed...

NJ JEWISH STANDARD - April 11, 2014. ''Sam Goldberg and Joshua Levine, seventh graders at the Moriah School in Englewood, created a music album, 'Tikun Olam,' to benefit Leket Israel —The National Food Bank (www.leket.org). Those who contribute to Leket Israel in honor of Sam and Josh will gain access to download the Tikun Olam playlist.'' Read on for details:

BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK - April 16, 2014. ''It’s embarrassing that foreign donors need to replace the government to feed Israel’s needy,” said Gidi Kroch, the chief executive officer of Leket, Israel’s largest food bank, which gets most of its support from Jewish organizations abroad. “It is becoming unbearable and the government needs to do more about it.” Read the full article here:

JEWISH EXPONENT - April 16, 2014. '''There is an increased need around the holiday times and we are seeing an even greater one this year with the number of working poor on the rise,' said Joseph Gitler, founder and chairman of Leket Israel.'' Leket Israel, The National Food Bank, distributed 386 tons of fresh produce to needy families in advance of Passover. Read the full article here:

HAARETZ Rank & File - April 18, 2014. ''Passover is a time for many Jewish families to open their homes to guests joining them at the dinner table, but for those who cannot afford to host a meal there’s Leket Israel. This month alone, Leket has distributed 386 tons of fresh produce, which was picked by its volunteers, and 11 tons of dry goods and dairy products, which were donated by manufactur...

BLOOMBERG NEWS - April 16, 2014. ''It’s embarrassing that foreign donors need to replace the government to feed Israel’s needy,” said Gidi Kroch, the chief executive officer of Leket, Israel’s largest food bank, which gets most of its support from Jewish organizations abroad. “It is becoming unbearable and the government needs to do more about it.” Read the full article here:

JEWISH DAILY FORWARD - April 10, 2014. '''There is an increased need around the holiday times and we are seeing an even greater one this year with the number of working poor on the rise,' said Joseph Gitler, founder and chairman of Leket Israel.'' Leket Israel, The National Food Bank, distributed 386 tons of fresh produce to needy families in advance of Passover. Read the full article here:

JERUSALEM POST - April 16, 2014. ''Leading up to the holiday, Leket staff, along with volunteers from companies, youth movements and the army, prepared crates of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as food baskets, at the organization’s two logistic centers in Ra’anana, north of Tel Aviv, and in Nesher, near Haifa. The crates and baskets were delivered to some 180 nonprofit partners around the...